The Zambian companies will participate in Business to Business Meetings with buyers from DR CONGO through a well-coordinated match making process based on company profiles.
The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA), in collaboration with the Finnish government funded Accelerated Growth for Micro, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in Zambia (AGS Programme), ABSA Bank Zambia PLC and the Federation des Enterprises du Congo (FEC) will on October 20, 2021, take 52 export ready Zambian businesses and exporters on a Trade Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), to help secure market access for their products.
The objective of the Trade Mission is to facilitate the growth of Zambia’s Non-Traditional Exports (NTEs) and to secure market access for Zambian products. The Agency hopes to penetrate, consolidate and expand the Congolese market for Zambian products.
The DR Congo Trade Mission is part of the implementation of the N8 + 1 Export Plan to increase Non-Traditional Exports in the region.
ZDA will during the three day Trade Mission from October 20 to 22, 2021, introduce Zambian companies to the Congolese business environment and importers, generate trade leads and trade transactions.
The Trade Mission will be characterised by business to business meetings with buyers from all over DR Congo alongside an exhibition in Lubumbashi, where the Zambian companies will showcase their products.
The sectors targeted for this particular Trade Mission are agriculture, agribusiness, agro processing, building materials, textiles, garments, mining supply services, engineering services and products among others.
Part of ZDA’s mandate is to promote the development of Non-Traditional Exports, in regional and international markets.
In alignment with the policies of the New Dawn Government and the pronouncements by President, Hakainde Hichilema to focus on regional and continental markets, ZDA has reengineered its N8 +1 Export Plan in order to penetrate the markets of all Zambia’s neighbouring countries, particularly the low hanging fruit markets such as South Africa, Angola and DR Congo.
The aim of the N8 + 1 Export Plan is to build export capacity of Zambian producers, facilitate online matchmaking of Zambian businesses with business counterparts in selected countries and identify business potential and opportunities in selected countries.
The Export Plan further aims to scale up export promotion in targeted markets, undertake market development and intelligence, conduct trade negotiations and facilitation, as well as resolve challenges that exporters face.
ZDA periodically undertakes market research, trade missions, fairs and expos in selected markets. The findings of the last research undertaken revealed that DR Congo is Zambia’s largest market with a number of Zambian products with potential for penetration, expansion and consolidation.
The Agency uses trade missions as a strategy for exploring potential international business opportunities. Trade Missions also help create networks of buyers, agents, suppliers and key government contacts in target countries.
Commenting on the DR Congo Trade Mission, ZDA Acting Director General Albert Halwampa said: “The Zambia Development Agency is excited about the enthusiasm shown by His Excellency the Republican President Mr. Hakainde Hichilema in prioritizing promotion of trade and investment in regional and international markets.
ZDA, has realigned its strategic focus in tune with the New Dawn Government to focus on the regional and continental markets such as the Democratic Republic of Congo. The DR Congo Trade Mission is therefore ZDA‘s first call of duty in line with the New Dawn Government’s pronouncements to accelerate Zambia’s economic growth through increased Exports”
